1.The storage of batteries, what to watch out for?
Li ion batteries are recommended to store at 40-50% of charge. The temperature should not fall below 0°C, 5°C-10°C is considered as an optimal temperature. Also, over a long time, if kept idle, self-discharge would happen, in that case, recharge is needed once in every 12 months.
2.In case of long term non use, should batteries be removed from the device?
Yes, as a very small current would keep flowing even in case of non use and that could damage the battery.
3.What is self discharge?
Battery, as an energy storage system, also has internal losses which cause the battery to discharge itself, this is referred as self-discharge. Li-ion batteries have 3-5% self-discharge and it is temperature dependent and increases at higher temperature.
4.What is complete discharge?
Complete discharge is referred to as a state of 0 voltage or “squeezed-out” state of battery. At this state of discharge chemical reactions start damaging active materials inside the cells and capacity starts reducing drastically. Even sometimes, the chemical reactions inside the battery cells take out the ability to recharge. Hence it is recommended to not discharge below the cut off voltage of the battery prescribed by the manufacturer.
5.What should be the temperature range to operate my batteries?
Operating temperature of the Li-ion batteries is recommended 10°C-55°C. However, the recommended charging temperature range is 5°C-45°C.
6.How long the service life of batteries is, even though the warranty of products is X number of years?
Operating conditions, usage and care are few factors which affect the service life of the battery, however, in optimum conditions, the li-ion batteries could survive around 1000+ charge-discharge cycles.
7.What is memory effect and lazy-battery effect? Which chemistry/battery technology has these effects?
The memory effect and lazy-battery both are the same. When the battery starts remembering the usage and charging patterns and based on these two patterns, blocking of the capacity starts happening. In other words, the full capacity of the battery could not be utilized. This is called the memory effect or lazy-battery effect. The blocking of the capacity happens because of crystal formation on the electrodes of the battery which reduces the charge acceptability. The memory effect or lazy-battery effect happens in the batteries with Ni and Cd chemistry.